Snow Tire Chains

Getting Ready For Winter

If you live in an area where the road is covered by snow most of the year, you may be required to have snow tire chains on your vehicle. What are they? They are special tire equipment that increases one's traction ability as they are driving.

In many states they are illegal, since they can cause harm to the roads. Yet, in other states they are necessary for a safe commute. For this reason you need to acquire as much knowledge as you can about them, so you can be fully aware of what is involved in installing and using them.

What Type Of Vehicle Do You Have?

So, what's the first thing you should know about snow tires chains? Basically, you should be aware that their specific placement will depend on the type of vehicle you have. These are available for: front wheel drives, rear wheel drives and four wheel drives. If you have a front wheel drive, the snow tire chains must be placed on the two front tires. For rear wheel drives, snow tire chains must be placed on the tires in the back-end of the vehicle. Finally, four wheel drives require two pairs of snow tire chains on all of the wheels, both front and rear.

Checkpoints

What does a person do if their vehicle lacks the proper front wheel, rear wheel or four wheel drive tires? If they live in a state that requires snow tire chains, they can get them professionally fitted at special checkpoints. In fact, as they are getting their cars checked, they may legally have to take advantage of such a service. But since it's usually at the checkpoint station, it shouldn't be too inconvenient. However, it should be noted that drivers are charged a fee for the service.

Installing Them Yourself

For everyone else installing snow tire chains shouldn't be too difficult. Instructions on how to install the chains should be provided from the store selling them. If they can't be found there, drivers can always look up suggestions on the Internet on the easiest way to install them. Usually, the process involves manipulating lever locks while draping the chain over the tire. Some sites offering free installation instructions will provide pictures to further assist in the process.



Of course, if you find that you're still having difficulty installing them, you can try and get a mechanic to do it or see if your state's checkpoint station can qualify you for their installation service.



Speed Limit

Once you have installed snow tire chains, expect your driving experience to be different. Yes, you will notice you have incredible traction but on the downside you will also be limited when it comes to speed. Indeed, don't expect to go 60 miles per hour when you have them. You will instead be going at around 30 miles per hour, (which for many areas is the actual speed limit for vehicles with snow tire chains).




Additionally, you will still need to be cautious in areas where there are rocks, roots or other hidden obstacles. If you hit these hard enough, you could damage your snow tire chains. This is even more reason why you will need to drive slowly, especially when traveling in areas where the road is underdeveloped.

Cable Tire Chains

Tire chains are extremely important for vehicles during winter season as it protects the traction of these vehicles from heavy snowfall and ice on roads. Various parts of America experience moderate to heavy snowfall in winter, which keeps on accumulating on the roads. Snow hardens to ice and makes roads slippery and dangerous to drive on.

Various types of cable tire chains are specified for different vehicles such as those for passenger cars, single light trucks, heavy trucks, and special police and emergency vehicles. It is suggested that customers may select an appropriate tire chain according to their preference, choice and need of their vehicle. A type of tire chain used is cable tire chain. Metal straps of this particular kind of tire chain are lined parallel to each other and look similar to cables that are lined paralleled to each other. Hence the names cable tire chains.

Cable tire chain is a compound laid rope consisting of many ropes and layers of different strands laid collectively into one rope. Another type is side cable in which a stranded cable is used to complete one full circumference along the sidewalls of the tire. Stranded cables are wrapped or covered in order to provide greater resistance to abrasive wear and tear. It could either be a spring wire, a high- carbon steel wire or nylon wire of type 6 or 12. Traction reinforcement sleeves covering the cable from side connector enclose the wrapped or covered cable.

Cross cable length from inside including fasteners held in the same plane are within a tolerance level of minus 1/8 inch to plus 1/8 inch of the specified length indicated by the chain manufacturers' specifications. Side cable length is within the tolerance of minus1/8 inch to plus ½ inch of the length indicated by specifications mentioned by chain manufacturers.